Collar point stay



Dec- 9, 1952 J. F. FLORKEwlcz COLLAR POINT STAY 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 Filed Jan. 10,

ATTORNEY DeC- 9, 1952 J. F. FLoRKEwlcz COLLAR POINT STAY 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Filed Jan. 10, 1948 A-r-ronNsY Patented Dec. 9, 1952 'UNITED STATES PATENT i FFICE COLLAR POINT STAY John F. Florkewicz, Oakland, Calif.

Application January 10, 1948, Serial No. 1,601

4 Claims.

The invention relates to stiffening stay elements for installation at the point port-ions of relatively soft turndown shirt collars.

An object is to provide a collar-point stay of the character described whi-ch may be removably xed to a mounting collar edge in a particularly effective self-retaining manne-r.

Another object is to provide stay elements which may be independently mounted on the point portions of a collar.

A further object is the provision of collar-point stays of the character described which are arranged to carry decorative element-s in front of collar point portions which mount them.

An added object is to provide for a cooperative connection of a pair of the installed stays by a separable means which may be more or less ornamental.

Yet another object is to provide collar-point stays of adjustable length.

The invention possesses other objects and features of invention, some of which, with the foregoing, will be set forth or be apparent in the following description of typical embodiments thereof, and in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 illustrates a cooperative pair of one embodiment of the stays as installed on the front end or point portions or a turned-down collar of a shirt.

Figure 2 isa rear-side view of the installed right-hand collar-p-oint stay shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged longitudinal section taken through the stay of Figure 2.

Figures 4 and 5 are enlarged sections taken respectively at the lines 4--4 and 5-5 in Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a perspective exterior view of the left-hand stay 30 shown in Figure 1.

Figure '7 illustrates the installation of a cooperative pair of another embodiment of the stays on the point portions of a turned-down collarof a shirt.

Figure 8 is a rear-'side vieW of the installed right-hand collar-point stay shown in Figure 7. Figures 9 and 10 are enlarged sections taken respectively at the lines 9-9 and I-IU in Figure 8.

Figure 11 is an enlarged and rear perspective view of the left-hand stay of Figure '7.

Figure 12 is an enlarged and front perspective view of the left-hand stay of Figure 7.

As particularly illustrated in Figures 1 to 6, similar and mutually complementary unitary stays I8 and I9 embodying my invention are mounted at the right-hand and left-hand front .end point or wing'portions 20 and 2| ofa relatively soft fabric collar 22 which extends from the neckband 23 of a shirt 24, the shirt having a buttoned neckband and front. As is usual, the collar 22 compri-ses outer and inner plies of fabric 25 and 26 respectively, said plies being sewed together at customarily inturned edge portions to provide herns 21 and 28 of four-ply thickness at the free front end and bottom edges of the collar, respectively. A neoktie will usually be mounted on the closed shirt front, a four-in-hand tie 29 being shown.

The present stays I8 and I 9 have mutually reversed parts whereby they are arranged for mounting respectively on the mutually opposed rightand left-side end portions 20 and 2| of the collar. VExcept for the mutually reversed arrangement of their parts, the stays I8 and I9 are similar and essentially comprise stem or shank portions 3l provided with spring slip members 32 and sharpened prongs 33 at opposite ends thereof.

In the present structure, each clip 32 comprises a return bend of spring Wire or the like fixed t-o theA shank near its top and disposed in a plane VWhich is perpendicular to the stem axis, and has a side or leg 32 extending radially fro-m the shank and a side or leg 32 terminating opposite f and slightly beyond the shank. The spring clip ally offset from bottom shank portions, each vprong having a pointed straight portion 33' 'directed downwardly from a connecting portion 33 which extends generally radially as an arm from a bottom point of the shank 3I in fixed relation thereto. A prong porti-on 33 may be generally S-shaped, as shown, whereby to provide an acute angle bend 35 between the prong portions 33 and 33". The sharpened prong portion '33 is arranged for insertion longitudinally downwardly within the hem 2-1 from the back of the collarpoint and to a degree determined by the engagement of the prong bend 35 with the fabric at the point of entry of the prong. The prong 33 is preferably disposed in coplanar relation with vthe side 32'o-f the clip 32 and extends from the 3 same side of the stem axis whereby the stem may be disposed against the inner fabric ply 26 beyond the collar end hem 21 when a stiiener unit I8 or I9 is installed in the indicated manner; the shank and collar point combination may thus be of minimum thickness thereat.

While the shank and clip and prong portions of the stay might be integrally connected to provide a stay of iixed effective length, it may be desirable that the stays I8 and I9 be of adjustable length, with their shanks 3l having sections which are mutually adjustable in the shank line. In the present structure, each clip 32 comprises end portions or a length of resilient Wire which is formed to provide a return bend 31 having one leg 31 extending upwardly and integrally from` the inner end of the clip portion 32' as the at.- taching means therefor and having its other leg 31 straight and somewhat longer than its side.

3?. ntermediately thereof, the wire portion 3,1" is. slidably and frictionally engaged in the bore. of a. tubular element 385 which carries the prong, Ssfixed thereto; in the present structure, the prong 33de sha-pedof a length of Wire and has a base portion 33' extending along and fixed to the exterior of the lower portion of the tube 3B whereby the, tube and prong unit thus provided are adjustable along. the wire portion 31".

Means may be provided to increase the rigidity of. a presentstay. IS or I9 at its bend 31. As particularly shown, a tubular element 39 slidably receives the tube inv its bore, extends from the top of the bend Si and is fixed to the bend side 3.1'. at the point of the bend as by soldering or Welding. The upperendof. the tube member 38 is arranged to be.. and remainfrictionally engaged in the bore of the tube 39, as the effective length of. the stem 3l isadjusted, and the arrangement is understood tostien the bend side31 against undue exure during itsinstallation and use.

At its lower end below the tube 38, the Wire portion 3l" is provided with a loop 4 I. which acts as a stop thereat. forpreventing an accidentalremoval of the tube 38 from its adjustably mounted position on. the wire portion. 31. In the. present structure, theloop. 4I also comprises an` eye at which the ends of aflexibleeonnection 42 may be secured, said connection. comprising a chain. assembly releas'ably. connecting the eyes 4I of the units. I8 and. I9.v As particularly illustrated, the chain 42v has sections 42? and 42., which connect the eyes 4I ofthediierent stays. with the different elements of a separable member 43er more or lessornarnental form4 for disposal infront of or behind the necktie 2e; the presentv member. 43 comprises sections. and 434 of hemispherical outlineV which respectively. provide the elements of a ball andsocketconnection between them.

Itvvilllnowv be particularly noted that. the present stays I8y and I9 maybe adjustably mounted on the'collarbffa shirtwhile they are.. mutually free, and either beioreor after. theshirt is donned by a wearer. 'Inimounting a. stay I8. or. I9, its prongSS isfully insertedfromtherear in the appropriate hem '21 While the shank 3| extends along the hemwith the clip 32 adjacent but free ofthe hem, after whichthe stayis swung about the pointl of engagement of the prong bendv 3.5 with the inner, collar ply 26 for effecting a relatively positive. gripping of. the. hem by the clip: inthis manner, the mounting of each stay may be effected while leaving the collar point in smooth condition between the prong and clip and disposing the shank of the stay inwardly of the thicker portion ofv the collar pointlat thehem 2 1.

While the shirt is donned and has been closed at its upper front as provided for, the chain sections 42 and 42" of the mounted stays I8 and I9 may be connected, as by the separable member 43 disposed either in front of or behind the necktie 29 as desired. It will be understood that the connecting chain 42, particularly if extended behind the necktie, may serve to generally anchor the stifened c ollar points against their outward swinging from their normal position against the shirt front. It Will also be understood that the sta-ys I8 and I9 may remain in their mounted positions on the collar ends if the shirt is to be wornmore than once, the chain 42 being opened during a removal or donning of the shirt.

Figures 7 to 12 disclose a pair of collar point stiieners which are arranged for installation in an operatively inverted relation to a shirt collar as compared with the units I 8 and I9. As shown, stiffener units 48 and 49 are mounted at the front end portions, or points, 5 0 and 5I of a collar 5.2 which extends from the neckband of a shirt 54, the shirt having a buttoned front and neckband. The collar 52 has the structure of the collar 252-, andisvformed with outer and inner plies or fabric 55 and 56 which are sewed together at customary inturned edge portions to provide hems 5 1 and 58 atA the free front and. bottom edges of the collar respectively, A necktie 59 of the four-in-hand type is shown as mounted at the front of the shirt and generally between the .0011er points Sli-and 5 I..

The stiffener units 4,3 andy 4 9 areA arrangedfor mounting respectively on'the right and left side end points 58 and 5I of the collar 52, saidunits having their parts in. mutuallyl complementary relation to provide for their likeY application at the different collar edges. Except for the mutually reversed relation of certain of their parts, the stiffener units 48 and 4 9 essentially comprise stem or shank portions SI. provided with spring clips (i2v and. prongs 6,31 at opposite ends thereof, and are ofiixed2 rather` than adjustable, length. Inv termsofl its disclosedmounted position, each clip 9% rcomprises a LJ-bend extending from the shank near itsbottorn, and hasga, side 82; .extendingrv radially fr cmthe shank andra side 6.2!" extending opposite, and slightlyy beyond the shank. The clip thus provided is arranged to frictionally receive andgrip the. lower par-.t of a front collar edge Wilh. @beside 6.22' if against the outer. faceV of they collar. The clip portion G2" may carryan ornamental elemelltlielat its free end.

The; prongs. .53; of. theunits. 48. and. 49.. are laterallyspaced fromv upperstem portions, andl have minted: Straight.- portions 63.' directed` downwardly from connecting portions. 63? which. extid: gfilly lftdibllyV from. the. Shanks. 6I in -Xedrlfelationthereto. Inthe present structure, eah Shar-penedfprons portion 6.3 is arranged for insertion longitudinally downwardly in a hem 51 from an upper pointat the back of the collar and to.r a degreel determinedby the engagementl ot the prone Demon 6.3:* with the. fabric attire point of entryof the` prong; I t isA to be noted that the prong 63 is disposed in coplanar relation Withthe S1411@ 6.2 0f the. Cline?. and extends fromtheside of the shank axiswnerelqy the Shana si may be disposed.` against the inneriiabric ply-56u beyond the coiiar-pginthemetwhen a' 'snireneuit 4a or 49 is installedin thetindicated manner, whereby. the. shanku arielF collar'poirit combination may teoftfemnumwenessmeer."

1.1i the. Present; Strueture.. en eye. 1| is provideimit tnegsnanlg El below-fthe elip'fz'i said eye being dened within an open return bend 'I0 at the bottom of the shank and having the clip portion 62' extending from the upper end of the bend side which extends laterally of the stem. The return bends 19 of cooperative units 48 and 49 serve to extend the stiffening action of the shanks 6I beyond the clips 62 and they also may be utilized as terminal anchorages for flexible connections such as the chain 42 disclosed in connection with the units I8 and I9 of the flrst embodiment.

It is to be noted that the present units are generally hung from' upper points of the hems 5l of the connecting bends at the tops of the prongs 63", whereas the prongs 23 of the rst embodiment generally seat the units on the bends 35 at the tops of the prongs 33. Also, since the present stiffener units 48 and 49 lack any provision for length adjustments thereof, the stay shank and clip and eye and prong portions may comprise, as shown, parts of a single strip of Wire to provide a particularly simple structure for its purpose.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the advantages of the present collar point stay features will be readily understood by those skilled in the art to which the invention appertains. While I have described arrangements which I now consider to be the preferred embodiments thereof. I desire to have it understood that the showings are primarily illustrative, and that such changes and developments may be made, when desired, as fall within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a unitary collar-point stat7 of the character described, a shank arranged for its removably mounted disposal behind and against the front edge portion of a turn-down collar point as a stiiening means therefor, a sharpened prong arranged for its insertion Within the collar point structure in coplanar relation therewith and carried by the shank in laterally ofset parallel and coplanar relation thereto at the end of an arm extending radially from the shank adjacent an end thereof and operative to limit the degree of insertion of the prong within the engaged collar point, a collar-gripping portion including a spring arm extending transversely of and across the shank adjacent the other end thereof and operative in the common plane of the prong and arm to directly receive and grip a front collar edge between it and the shank while the prong portion of the stay is operatively engaged in the collar point, and means on the shank in its axial line providing an eye arranged for the attachment thereat of a flexible connecting means between the stay and the corresponding eye of a complementary like stay mounted on the other collar point.

2. In a unitary collar-point stay of the character described, a shank portion of uniform cross-section arranged for its removably mounted disposal behind and along the front edge portion of a turn-down collar point, a sleeve member slidably and frctionally receiving therethrough said shank portion for its adjusted positioning therealong, a prong carried by the sleeve member in laterally oiset parallel and coplanar relation thereto at the end of a radial arm extending appreciably from the section and arranged for its insertion within and along the collar edge portion to a limit imposed by the arm, and a collar-gripping spring clip comprising an integral extension of said shank portion and arranged to grippingly receive a front collar edge while the point portion of the stay is operatively engaged in said edge.

A3. A structure in accordance with claim 1 wherein the connection eye is provided at the prong end of the shank.

4. A structure in accordance with claim 1 wherein the connection eye is provided at the same end of the shank as the collar-gripping portion.

JOHN F. FLORKEWICZ.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 302,643 Adgate July 29, 1884 1,384,956 Hudson July 19, 1921 1,737,453 Doran Nov. 26, 1929 1,780,084 Krash Oct. 28, 1930 1,874,145 Van Cura Aug. 30, 1932 1,882,355 McCormick Oct. 11, 1932 2,192,834 Kuhn Mar. 5, 1940 2,304,464 Manaster Dec. 8, 1942 2,371,338 Manaster Mar. 13, 1945 2,425,872' Forsland Aug. 19, 1947 

